THE BROADSTONE MURDER.

The trial of James Spollen for the murder of Mr. Little occupied the Dublin Police Court from the 7th to 11th Aug. In opening- the case, the Attorney-General made a very long" address detailing the particulars of the murder, and pointing out how it was proposed, by means of cir.cumstantial evidence alone, to show that the prisoner was the assassin and z-obber. Nearly the whole of the evidence was to the same effect as that with which the public is already familiar j and a great deal of it was of a general character, proving that murder and robbery were committed, • and when they were perpetrated, but not specially implicating Spollen. Then it was shown that he had every facility to commit the murder had he desired: he was acquainted with Mr. Little's room; he knew when Mr. Little was in and when out; he could have left the house by a window which gives access to the roof of the station; he could thus,. unobserved, have gained his own cottage in three minutes. A razor found in the canal basin was shown to be Spollen's, and a hammer discovered there was in all probability his: the surgical evidence favoured; the view that ■Mi*.-Little was killed by a blow on the head from a hammer and a* gash in the throat from a razor. The discovery of parcels . of money about. the railway premises was proved; and iV was established that one parcel discovered iu^a wa-ter-closet contained packets that had been

■sent to Mr. Little. This parcel was wrapped up in a piece of coloured calico —the remains of a girl's sun-bonnet. Before Spollerfs arrest a " water-ram" had been several times stopped; if he wanted to get at the money it would have been necessary to have Stopped the ram': it has not been out- of order since Spollen's arrest. A little padlock was found in the red lead covering money in a wooden keg found in the water-closet: Spollen had a key which fitted this and another padlock. The most important evidence against Spollen was held to be that of his own children. ' The testimony of his little girl Lucy was intended to show that Spollen had hidden .something in a chimney on the night of the murder; that the rag containing the money was her sun-bonnet; -and that Spollen threatened to have the life of any one who fetched a doctor at a time when his wife was iE. But there ••were marked differences between her statement on the trial and her statement before the magistrates. Joseph Spollen, a boy of fourteen, said that on the evening of the murder he saw his father going towards the terminus, between five and six o'clock; and that the rag produced belonged to his •sister. Heidentified hammers and two razors produced. He also made statements differing from previous statements. Mr. Curran made an able defence for the ■prisoner:; making the utmost of the dis.crepancies in the evidence of his children; -showing'the improbability of their statements; and roundly asserting that this evidence was the result of pre-concert; and that some one in the background must have prompted them to come forward and take- their lather's life. Mr. Brewster, for the Crown, asked the jury whether they could bfeireve that the prisoner's wife and children had, for a reward of £350, conspired to destroy him ? Chief Justice'Monahan summed up with ;g-reat impartiality. His array of the evidence tended to show that the dou^bt was in favour of the pi'isoner. The jury re- ' tired for an hour and a half, and then ; -broughtin a verdict of "not guilty." The . mob cheered. A most extraordinary scene \ followed.' Spollen became painfully esci- i ted, and crying out "My children! my ! •children !" sank into a state of insensibi- ; lity. When he recovered he canie forward •to the bar, and in a somewhat broken manner-addressed the court as follows :— "Wei], my lords and gentlemen, I find 'that lam not exactly deceived. My conviction^ was fixed that I stood before 'twelve ;iof-im T countrymen, men of age, ex- ; perienee^arid that had happy firesides, and 'confidence in their family circles. I that they would impartially take ■my case into consideration, and they have done so. It is not for me to commence to praise-myself; brrt I have been brought here in a wrongful way- —wrongfully by — I will not-condenm the woman. I always liked the man and I loved the woman; but it is a dreadful thing to be in the hands of ■a female tigress. I should have returned thanks to the two gentlemen, the honourable gentlemen, pillars of the law on the 'bench. -I mayljetoo sensitive when I say the servants of the Crown have blackened my character too much in their addresses to the Juiy. I have, bowever, thanks be to God, escaped (raising- his hands,) thanks and praises be to God! Amen. (Here the prisoner sat down on the chair in the dock, but immediately rose and began speakingagain.) My character, I am afraid, must remain trifiingly impaired. My children, the only ones I love, I have, to provide for. (The prisoner here again was overcome by iis feelings.) If I had means to retire to some— —"

Chief Justice Monahan—" Is there any .other charge against the prisoner?" Governor of the Gaol—"No my lord." Spollen proceeding—"lf. I can find means of retiring to an asylum in some of these colonies, where I can continue for the remainder of my life to support existence, and to——-'* Chief Justice Lefroy—" Do the Crown intend to proceed with any further charge against the prisoner ?" Mr. O'Donohoe —"I am not instructed that the Grown intend to proceed with any other charge against the prisoner." Spollen proceeded to say— v To the gentlemen of the press I return my sincere and hearty thanks for the manner in -which they remained silent during my incarceration. As-.for. shaking hands, it would be foolish in-me to do so. The public witnessed the untiring energy and scrutiny with which, as the gentleman himself said, he had grown old in the service, your honourable friend Mr. Curran, my counsel, and the untiring energy he displayed. But he is not so old in the

service that he does not retain a large fund of that which, will go to support many and many a poor" client beneath his able hands. May he live many a day with a similar case as mine to defend!"

Mr. Curran— *c It would he well if the prisoner were not discharged immediately. There are great crowds outside." Mr. Sidney— " Your i. ordship will please te order his discharge." Chief Justice Monahan—" He is now formally discharged by the Jury and the Court."

Mr. Sidney—" The gaoler will kindly assist him in retiring privately." The Court was then adjourned.